t's back! Here are the Top 25 Unsigned Albums according to SmartPunk.com (* denotes sales of 100 CDs or more):
1. Love, She Wrote Oh! And About Last Night....*3
2. Archie Star Carry Me Home*4
3. Jamestown Story Love Vs. Life
4. Saosin Translating The Name*107
5. Lido Beach Fake Hellos, Real Goodbyes
6. Sail By The Stars A Sunshine State Of Mind
7. Ice Nine Kills The Burning*5
8. Alaska & Me I Will Die In The West
9. From Aphony Survive
10. NeverShoutNever Yippee EP*5
11. The Jakes Shake My Hand
12. Brighten Early Love*4
13. Run Into The Shadows Don't Even Say A Word
14. Teeter Heating Up
15. The Real You Better Now Than Never
16. This Season's Love Like, Me
17. RunnerRunner Breakup Makeup EP*
18. Callahan Face The Day
19. Jamestown Story The Prologue*
20. Otenki Making Sense Of Static
21. The Fear Of Falling Everyday Like This
22. A Bird A Sparrow A Bird A Sparrow
23. Beardo Beardo
24. Hyper Crush The Arcade
25. Pathway To Providence Hello World
Posted by tim.towner on November 18, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
You Can Go To School But You Can't Buy Class
Ok so here's some cool things that have been going on since we last posted.
01) We got a new president. How amazing was that? Barack Obama....interesting times are ahead.
02) Our record "Making Sense of Static " came out. We couldn't be more excited about the release. According to our friends at Smartpunk.com said that we oversold our CD/Shirt combo online. Which meant that we sold out...that's amazing. We worked really hard on the presale and they were happy with the results.
If you haven't picked up a copy now please do. We're now selling a CD/Shirt/Poster combo on Smartpunk.com for $12.99. Or you can buy just the EP for $5.99.
03) We have been picked to play Unsilent Night 2. If you don't know what's up with that please just out this image.
This show is going to be epic. We can't wait to play. Things are looking up for your boys.
01) We got a new president. How amazing was that? Barack Obama....interesting times are ahead.
02) Our record "Making Sense of Static " came out. We couldn't be more excited about the release. According to our friends at Smartpunk.com said that we oversold our CD/Shirt combo online. Which meant that we sold out...that's amazing. We worked really hard on the presale and they were happy with the results.
If you haven't picked up a copy now please do. We're now selling a CD/Shirt/Poster combo on Smartpunk.com for $12.99. Or you can buy just the EP for $5.99.
03) We have been picked to play Unsilent Night 2. If you don't know what's up with that please just out this image.
This show is going to be epic. We can't wait to play. Things are looking up for your boys.
Friday, November 7, 2008
OTENKI ON SMARTPUNK.COM AND FULL ALBUM STREAM ON PUREVOLUME.COM
Hey guns and dolls go listen to our new ep on PUREVOLUME.COM/OTENKI then head to SMARTPUNK.COM and order our T-SHIRT/CD BUNDLE!
Also check out our review on THEDAILYCHORUS.com
Otenki - Making Sense of Static (7/10)
by Matt Nistler
Fact #1: During the time I spend online I check out countless numbers of bands as part of my personal quest to find the next big thing.
Fact #2: Often times when I'm on a band's Myspace/Web Page/Purevolume I'll scroll down to read their biography to get a feel for the band before I even hit “play” on a single song.
Fact #3: Even though you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, or for that matter a band by their Myspace biographical info, I still do. If the information on a band's page makes them sound highly inexperienced or gives the impression that they are just another neighborhood garage band then I'll probably pass on your band in favor of someone else with more developed tunes.
Fact #4: When I read in a band's biography that they have performed at The Taste of Chaos, The Vans Warped Tour and recently recorded with Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, Mercy Mercedes, Senses Fail) all as an unsigned band then you had better believe I'll be sticking around to check out each and every note.
Who is this mystery band from "Fact #4”, you ask? Why it's none other than the Houston, Texas quintet, Otenki.
With such a strong music resume one would expect Otenki's latest, long in the works, release Making Sense of Static to be quite the solid album. I'm pleased to say that for the most part this is very much true. Paul Leavitt is one of my favorite producers and with Making Sense of Static he has once again produced a quality album.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what Otenki's sound is on this album. It would be easy to just call it a pop-rock album or to arbitrarily pick bands that they resemble, but for the most part Making Sense of Static combines many different sounds and styles to deliver something that has an original sound probably best described simply as “Otenki”.
The standout tracks on the album are the lead single The Tie That Binds and the title track. Both feature mad riffs and contagious melodies that really showcase what Otenki can do at their best.
With the presence of these heavier hitting rock elements from the previously mentioned tracks, one might assume the entire album would have this feel. Ah, but this is not the case as Otenki have some tricks up their sleeve. Listen to ten seconds of the track Empty Words and you'll be bombarded by synth and powerpop elements. I know I definitely didn't see it coming.
The feel of the rest of the EP continues in much the same fashion. As soon as you think you have Otenki's sound narrowed down as a straight up rock band, they'll randomly come at you with delicate keys, intricate guitars, or upbeat powerpop elements.
It may just be personal preference, but even though on paper everything is there (great production, catchy hooks, driving guitars) for this album to be spectacular, for some reason I still am left wanting a bit more. There seems to be some kind of “x-factor” missing that would make me completely enamored by the release and anxious to put the album on repeat.
Nevertheless, Otenki has clearly put much time and effort into this album and the “x-factor” is likely just me being picky. This band has all the resources needed to launch their musical career to the next level. Making Sense of Static is an enjoyable release that is sure please many. Be sure to check out this hardworking band's latest tunes and divulge in the diverse sound that is Otenki.
Artist: Otenki
Album: Making Sense of Static EP
Released: November 04, 2008
Label: Unsigned
Location: Houston, Texas
Purchase: Smartpunk
RIYL: The Goodwill, TREOS, Armor for Sleep, Senses Fail
Reviewed by: Matt Nistler
Posted by matt.nistler on October 14, 2008
back to articles
Also check out our review on THEDAILYCHORUS.com
Otenki - Making Sense of Static (7/10)
by Matt Nistler
Fact #1: During the time I spend online I check out countless numbers of bands as part of my personal quest to find the next big thing.
Fact #2: Often times when I'm on a band's Myspace/Web Page/Purevolume I'll scroll down to read their biography to get a feel for the band before I even hit “play” on a single song.
Fact #3: Even though you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, or for that matter a band by their Myspace biographical info, I still do. If the information on a band's page makes them sound highly inexperienced or gives the impression that they are just another neighborhood garage band then I'll probably pass on your band in favor of someone else with more developed tunes.
Fact #4: When I read in a band's biography that they have performed at The Taste of Chaos, The Vans Warped Tour and recently recorded with Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, Mercy Mercedes, Senses Fail) all as an unsigned band then you had better believe I'll be sticking around to check out each and every note.
Who is this mystery band from "Fact #4”, you ask? Why it's none other than the Houston, Texas quintet, Otenki.
With such a strong music resume one would expect Otenki's latest, long in the works, release Making Sense of Static to be quite the solid album. I'm pleased to say that for the most part this is very much true. Paul Leavitt is one of my favorite producers and with Making Sense of Static he has once again produced a quality album.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what Otenki's sound is on this album. It would be easy to just call it a pop-rock album or to arbitrarily pick bands that they resemble, but for the most part Making Sense of Static combines many different sounds and styles to deliver something that has an original sound probably best described simply as “Otenki”.
The standout tracks on the album are the lead single The Tie That Binds and the title track. Both feature mad riffs and contagious melodies that really showcase what Otenki can do at their best.
With the presence of these heavier hitting rock elements from the previously mentioned tracks, one might assume the entire album would have this feel. Ah, but this is not the case as Otenki have some tricks up their sleeve. Listen to ten seconds of the track Empty Words and you'll be bombarded by synth and powerpop elements. I know I definitely didn't see it coming.
The feel of the rest of the EP continues in much the same fashion. As soon as you think you have Otenki's sound narrowed down as a straight up rock band, they'll randomly come at you with delicate keys, intricate guitars, or upbeat powerpop elements.
It may just be personal preference, but even though on paper everything is there (great production, catchy hooks, driving guitars) for this album to be spectacular, for some reason I still am left wanting a bit more. There seems to be some kind of “x-factor” missing that would make me completely enamored by the release and anxious to put the album on repeat.
Nevertheless, Otenki has clearly put much time and effort into this album and the “x-factor” is likely just me being picky. This band has all the resources needed to launch their musical career to the next level. Making Sense of Static is an enjoyable release that is sure please many. Be sure to check out this hardworking band's latest tunes and divulge in the diverse sound that is Otenki.
Artist: Otenki
Album: Making Sense of Static EP
Released: November 04, 2008
Label: Unsigned
Location: Houston, Texas
Purchase: Smartpunk
RIYL: The Goodwill, TREOS, Armor for Sleep, Senses Fail
Reviewed by: Matt Nistler
Posted by matt.nistler on October 14, 2008
back to articles
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